Blower unit for oil burners



June 23, 1942. n. w. aEczKli'r'r l BLOWER UNIT yFOR OIL BURNERS a sheets-sneer 1 Original Filed Feb. 4, 1938 QQ xm.

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INVENTOR REG! NALD w. BECKETT vmmcjg ATTORNE June 23, 1942 R'. w. BECKETT BLowEn UNIT FOR OIL BURNERS original Filed Feb'. 4, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR REGINALD Vvl.` A BECKETT r' ATT Mc oRNEYs Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE original application Feruary 4, 193s, serial No. 188,731. Divided and this application February 5, 1940, Serial No. 317,245

12 claims. (o1. 23o-11u This invention relates to fuel burners, and more particularly to an improved apparatus for mounting the movable or driven parts of oil or other liquid fuel burners. The present application is a division of my co-pending patent application Serial No. 188,731, filed February 4, 1938.

It is Yan object of the invention to provide a burner design in which the several parts are readily accessible for adjustment or repair and erence, which indicate like parts throughout the several views, the burner comprises a pedestal or base, indicated generally by the numeral I, which is surmounted by and supports a main body portion or housing, indicated generally by the numeral 2. A horizontally disposed air or blast tube 3 is secured to the lower portion of the housing 2 at one end thereof by cap screws or studs I which extend through a radially directed flange in which individual parts may be replaced with II formed at the inlet end of the air tube. On

a minimum of effort.

Another object is to provide an oil burner or the like, having the movable or driven parts arranged in a unit which is bodily removable from the burner with a minimum of effort and in a relatively short time. More specically, the invention resides in a burner havingv a chambered blower housing from which the blower impeller can be withdrawn while attached to the motor the upper portion of the housing 2 at the end thereof opposite the blast tube 3 a supporting member or bracket 5 is removably secured by cap v screws or studs 6.

Thebracket 5 carries a removable unit which comprises all the movable or driven parts of the burner, including motor 1, fuel pump and pressure regulator 8, blower 9 of the sirocco type, and

vcover plate I0. The blower 9 is actuated and' shaft so that the impeller, motor, and a fuel supported by shaft I2 of the motor 1 which also pump also, if desired, can be carried by the motor, and can be removed from the burner in the form of a compact unit. Included in the advantageous features of the invention are: an improved motor actuates the fuel pump. The circular cover plate I0 has a running or clearance lit on the shaft I2 and closely surrounds the same between the motor 1 and blower 9.

supporting bracket and attaching or mounting The blower 9 is received in a chamber I4 formed means for the same; a unique arrangement of fuelpump and blower impeller on a common motor shaft; and an improved closure for thev blower chamber in the housing.

in the upper portion of the housing 2 and forces air downwardly through a throat I5 tangentially into inlet end I6 of combustion air passageway I1 extending longitudinally through 'the bottom A still further object is to provide a generally of the housing 2 and the air tube 3.

efficient irl-operation and is of relatively simple dec ign and'construction and one which is inexpensive to manufacture. Other objects and ad- `vantages of the invention will become-apparent 35 ible loop 20 into fuel pipe 2l supported by bracket j from the following detailed description ofV a suit; Y

vable burner or apparatus embodying the invention and made in connection with the accom panying drawings, in which:

v22 and spider 23 in the air tube 3. A- vaporizing or spray nozzle 25 is secured Y*on/fthe end of the fuel pipe 2| at the discharge end of the air tube VV3 so that its outlet orifice 26 is disposed substan- Figure l is aside elevational viewpartly in sec.-Y 40 tially'in the plane of the smallest cross-sectional Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the 'by the blower 9 and moving in a helical path giomming-lesvfltli/the oil spray emerging from burner housing, withV parts broken away, taken/i5 the nozzle oriiice'26 to form a mist of finely dis- Fig. 4 is a front elevationalwview of the burner;

the movable or driven parts of the burner which are removable therefrom as a unit.

persed oil particles which burn in combustion chamberof thefheating unitvsuch as a domestic furnace.

The housing is of substantially uniform length Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 5o from top` to bottom and has a top wall 30 of genslstantially onl thellne-S of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a View with parts broken away showing tend downwardly as continuations of the side Referring to the drawings by numerals of ref- 53 walls 3l and 32 and terminate in a downwardly directed socket 35, to be later described. Rear end Wall 35 carries the bracket 5 which supports the removable motor unit, and front end'wall 31 carries the air tube 3 as mentioned above.

The blower chamber |4 is of the form commonly employed with rotary blowers of the sirocco type having axially extending blades, and is partially defined by a curved internal wall or partition 38 which extends between the end walls35 and 31 of the housing 2 from a point 39 where it is formed into the top wall 30 of the housing at substantially the center thereof downwardly to the left in a. circular fashion and then to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5. The lower end of the wall 38 extends beyond the middle of the housing and to cut-K 40 of the throat I5. The radial space between the peripheral margin of the rotary blower 9 and the walls of the chamber I4 progressively increases from the cutoff 40 in a clockwise direction around theV rotational axis of the blower substantially to the throat I5.

One side of the inlet end of the passage, opposite the throat I5, is defined by an internal wall or partition 42 which starts substantially at the bottom center of the housing 2 where it' is connected to the lower part of the bottom wall 33, as indicated at 43, and is then curved upwardly to the left and then to the right in a clockwise direction following the general curvature of the passage |1 as defined by the tube 3. The upper end of the partition 42 and the lower end of the partition 38 are joined by a short, vertically disposed partition 44 which partially defines the throat |5. The margin 45 of the partition 42, adjacent the end Wall 35 of the housing 2, progressively approaches the axis of the air passage |1, while the margin 45 of the partition 42, adjacent the end wall 31 of the housing, remains substantially fiush with the intion 48 which extends toward the discharge endV of the tube where a second cylindrical portion 45 of uniform internal diameter and relatively short axial length isformed. The walls'of the tube 3 are relatively thick and of heavy section at the discharge end thereof, preferably being in the form of an integral, thick-sectioned, annular collar 50 which reinforces the tube end and receives the screws which hold the head 21. A circular, radially directed flange 53 is integrally formed about the large diameter end of the head 21 and circumferentially abuts against the annular collar or thickened section 50 on the discharge end of the tube 3. A pair of screws 53 extend through suitable drill holes in the flange 53 and are threadedly secured in the collar 50 to clamp the head 21 in heat exchanging clrcum ferential contact with the collar.

Another pair of screws 5| extend through an annular holding ring 52,Y disposed about the head 21, through the flange 53 and are threadedly received in the annular thickened collar portion 50 at the discharge end of the tube 3. The ring 52 andv fiange 53 preferably have substantially the same outside diameter and' the ring is axially movable over an external cylindrical portion 54 of the head 21 which extends forwardly from the base of the flange 53. Between the ring 52 and flange 53,. and seating on the cylindrical portion 54 of the head, is an annular ring 55 of nreproof fibrous material such as asbestos. This ring is clamped between the holding ring 52 and'flangev 53 by the..screws 5| which also hold the head 21 to the tube 3.

The head 21 is formed to present a substantially continuous circular shoulder 55 to the advancing air and effects an agitation thereof which is beneficial in forming a suitable combustible mixture with the fuel oil. At substantially the region of smallest cross-sectional area the head 21 is formed with a shoulder 51 which further turbulates or agitates the moving air. From the shoulder 51 to the extreme end of the head 21 there is an outwardly tapering outlet or mouth 58.

A downwardly sloping passage or drill hole 55 extends through the bottom wall of the head 21 from the inside thereof between the annular shoulders 55 vand 51, through a depending boss 60 integral with the head, to the foremost edge of the head. 'I'his hole serves as a drain for fuel oil that may drip from the nozzle 25 and directs the same into the combustion chamber 28. Preferably the end of the hole 59 inside the head is enlarged or dished to more effectively drain oil' the oil.

When installing the burner in a heating system, such as a domestic furnace, having the refractory lined combustion chamber or re pot 28, the asbestos ring 55 is moistened to render it pliant and nexible so that the head 21 can be inserted intoopening 5| in thefire pot 28 and the asbestos ring 55 accommodates itself to the walls of the opening 5| to effect a circumferential seal therewith. If desired, an additional quantity 52 of plastic asbestos cement or the like may be packed around the head 21 in advnce of the asbestos ring`-55 so as to provide a more permanent seal and tol protect the head 21 from'the heat of the fire pot.

The bracket 22 which holds the fuel pipe 2| has a curved or cylindrical bottom surface 34 which corresponds in curvature to the internal cylindrical surface of the portion 41 of the tube` 3. This curved surface 54 assists in aligning` the bracket in the airpassageway |1 and affordsa snug ilt between the bracket and tube. The

bracket is held in place by a depending threaded stud 55 which extends through an elongated slot -5 formed in the bottom of the cylindrical p'ortion 41 of the air tube 3.. A nut 51 on the stud 55 locks the bracket in adjusted position and the novel shape of the tube 3 which provides a cylindricaleportion for'holding the bracket 2w retains the fuel pipe 2| centered in the air passageway |1 in all positions of adjustment.

A pair of ignition electrodes 5l and 35 are disposed longitudinally through the passageway I1 slightly above and on opposite sides of the oil pipe 2|. These electrodes are mounted in porcelain insulators 18 held in a clamp 1| on the top of the bracket 22.

A transformer, carried in a Vbox 13 disposed against the rear end wall 35 of the housing, furnishes high tension current to the electrodes 53 and 58. Conductors 14 and 15 enclosed by insulators 15 extend into the inlet end |8 of the air passageway I1 from the transformer box 13 through an opening 11 formed in the rear wall 35 of the housing which is normally covered by the transformer box 13. Each of the conductors is provided with a. spring-like brush 18 formed of suitable sheet metal such as bronze or brass and which extends upwardly and at right angles across the axes of the electrodes 55 and 53.

Electrical contact is made between the brushes burner.

4 |15 secured in a boss |16 formed on the partition Wall 38. Electrical conduit |11 leads to the burner and enters the wiring box |14 through a fitting |18 in the removable side wall plate 3|. The power leads |19 to the transformer extend through a cored hole |80 in the rear wall 36 of the housing and the power leads |82 to the motor 1 pass through a Acored hole through both the rear Wall 36 of thehousing and the upright portion ||il of the bracket 5. The fuel pressure conduit I9 extends through a slot |84 formed in the rear wall 36 of the hous- By the use of the present invention an oil burner can be provided with a removable unit which includes all the rotating parts of the This unit can easily be disassembled from the burner in a very short time and without the use of special tools or appliances. The closure plate or element which closely surrounds the motor shaft substantially lseals the opening into the impeller chamber within the blower housing through which the impeller is inserted. Since the opening through the blower housing is of sufcientsize to permit the passage therethrough of the'impeller'when the latter is secured on the motor shaft, the impeller can be removed from the impeller chamber without disconnecting the impeller from the motor shaft, The cover plate or closure I may be modified in size and shape and may be supported by the shaft of the motor if desired instead of by the housing structure.

The principles of the present invention may be utilized in various ways, numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, substitution of parts and changes in construction being resorted to as desired, it being understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above is given merely for purposes of explanation and illustration without intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specific details disclosed.

What I claim is:

l. In an oil burner having a supporting structure including a housing providing a blower chamber, a bracket having a Vertical portion disposed against the housing and removably attached thereto and ,a horizontal portion extending from the housing, a rotor in the chamber, a motor supported by the horizontal portion of the bracket and having a shaft extending through openings in the vertical portion of the bracket and the housing to support and actuate the rotor in the chamber, said openings being in register and sufficiently large to' pass the rotor while the latter is on the shaft, and a closure member having a running fit with the shaft and normally disposed over the openings tox substantially close the latter, whereby the bracket with the motor, rotor, and closure attached thereto are removable from the housing as a unit or alternatively the motor with the rotor and closure attached thereto are removable from the bracket' and housing as a unit.

2. In an oil burner-having a housing with a blower chamber therein and a wall formed with an opening into the chamber, a rotor smaller than said opening, a bracket having1 substantially horizontal and substantially vertical portions, removable means -fastening the vertical portion of the brackettosald housing wall over the opening, a motor supported by the horizontal portion of the bracket and having a shaft extending into the chamber through said opening |83 extending y .lion and having a and another opening formed in the vertical portion of the bracket and larger than the rotor to support and actuate the latter, a closure member having a running t with the shaft, and removable means for attaching the member to the vertical portion of the bracket over the opening in the latter, whereby the bracket with the motor, rotor and closure member can be removed as a unit from the housing upon removal of the fastening means or the motor with the rotor and the closure member can be removed as a unit from the bracket and the housing upon removal of the attaching means.

3. In an oil burner, a. housing providing a blower chamber, a bracket having an upright portion detachably secured to the housing and a generally horizontal portion extending` laterally from the housing, a motor supported by the horizontal portion of the bracket and having a shaft extending through aligned openings in the upright portion of the bracket and in the housing, said bracket being wholly supported by the housing in cantilever fashion, a rotor in the chamber and secured on the shaft to be supported and actuated thereby, said openings each being larger than the rotor to permit withdrawal of the latter therethrough, and clos uremeans l having a running t with the shaft and disposed across the openings to substantially close the latter.

4. In an oil burner including a housing formed to provide a blower chamber and having an apertured upright comprising a bracket having angularly disposed portions, a motor attached to one bracket porother bracket portion, smaller than the aperture in to permitposltioning the same in the chamber while on the shaft, smooth` surfaced relatively small pin means having sliding interengagement with the housing wall and said other bracket portion to locate the unit in predetermined position relative to the housing, and fastening means for securing the unit in said position wholly supported by the housing.

5. In an oil burner including a housing formed to provide a blower chamber and having an apertured upright wall, and a generally horizontal bracket member extending laterally from said wall and wholly supported thereby, a removable power unit comprising a motor having a shaft extending through the aperture in the housing wall, a cradle supported by the bracket member and resiliently connected to the motor to support the latter, means for attaching the cradle to the bracket member, a rotor secured on the shaft to be supported and actuated thereby, said rotor being smaller than the aperture to permit insertion of the Vrotor into the chamber therethrough, and guide means on the bracket member engageable with the cradle to locate the unit in predetermined position relativelto the aperture.

6. In an oil burner having a supporting structure including a housing providing a blower chamber, a'bracket having a vertical portion disposed against the housing and removably attached ,thereto and a horizontal portion extending from A'the' housing, a rotor in the chamber, and a motor supported by thehorizontal portion of the bracket and having a shaft extending through openings in the vertical' portion of the bracket and the housing to support and actuate the rotor in the chamber, said openings being wall, a removable power unit shaft extending through the a rotor on the shaft and" 'the housing Wall 15 and the electrodes by means of contact sleeves slidably received on the electrodes and urged toward the brushes 18 by helical compression springs 80. Each of the springs 80 has one end adjustably retained on the electrode by a reduced diameter portion 8| which grips the electrode, and a nut which is threaded onto the electrode.

The transformer box 13 has a at plate35 which is arranged to cover the opening 11 in the rear end wall 36 of the housing 2. Flange portions 86 and 81 of the plate 85 extend beyond the sides of the box 13 and are utilized in attaching the box to the housing. The flange 86 has a vertically disposed piano type hinge 88 secured thereto by suitable means such as spot welding.

The flange 91 of the plate 85 is secured to the housing 2 and an ear 9| by flllister head screws 92 (Fig. 1).

Air is drawn into the burner by therblower 9 through a downwardly directed inlet opening in a hood 94 formed on the front wall 31 of the housing 2. An air chamber 95 iny the hood 94 communicates with the blower chamber I4 through a circular opening 96 formed in the front wall 31 and concentric with the shaft l2 of the blower and motor.

. An air gate 91 is mounted olf center on reduced diameter pin ends of adjustable pivot screws 99 which are threadedly carried in aligned holesA `a washer|09 secured on the rod |04 and a washer bearing upwardly against the inside of the top wall of the hood 94. A foot is formed at the bottom of the rod |04 by bending the latter substantially through 90. This foot is disposed a short distance above the air gate 91 when the latter is closed and it is preferably provided with a rubber covering ||2 to silence the contact beltween the foot and the gate when the movement of the latter is arrested by the foot. The rod |04 may be locked in position by set screw 4. As long as the blower 9 is in operation the gate 91 is held open against the foot of the adjusting rod |04. Upon shutting of! the burner so that the blower 9 stops, the air gate 91 drops by gravity to the closed position illustrated in Fig. 1. Downward pivotal movement of the gate 91 is limited by a suitable stop H3.

The movable parts of the burner, which are removable together in the form of a unit shown in Fig. 6, are carried by a substantially U-shaped cradle 5 secured to the floor of the support-` in'g member or bracket 5 by studs ||5 and centered thereon by raised tracks or bosses ||1. The upstanding arms of the cradle ||5 are provided with metal bands ||8 which confine annular rubber rings or cushions (not shown) embracing the journal bosses on the bells of the motor 1. Accordingly, the motor, blower, and pump are resiliently cushioned and the single rotating shaft is supported intermediate its ends at a plurality of points by rubber cushioned journals.

An upright portion I |9 of the supporting member 5 isV disposed against the upper portion of `the` is secured to the portion ||9 of the bracket 5 by Mounting of the movable parts of the burner in the manner described -facilitates the servicing of the burner since the complete assembly of moving parts can be quickly detached by remov-v ing the screws |2| and the bolts or studs H5, disconnecting the fuel conduits Il and I9 and the electric leads to the motor. Replacement of a. new or repaired unit can be quickly accomplished by a reversal of these operations and is facilitated by the arrangement which'permits the relatively heavy unit of assembled moving parts to be supported by the bracket or member 5, leaving the operators hands free to place and adjust the parts.

Another feature of the construction is that if desired the unit of moving or drive and driven parts may be taken from the burner by withdrawing the three studs or cap screws 6 which secure the supporting member 5 to the housing 2. This procedure may be preferred when the identical unit of movable parts is to be replaced in the burner after some minor adjustment, since a fewer number of bolts, studs, or screws are removed than when the cradle ||5 is removed from the bracket 5. The reassembling ofthe device'v until the studs 6 are in place. The pin |22 is alsoV used in originally assembling the burner at the place of manufacture. Its location at the top center of the upright portion H9 of the bracket 5 permits the latter to suspend itself from the pin |22 and pivot by gravity to align the holes for the studs 5.

The pedestal or base has aV relatively large footing portion |24 which alfords a wide area support for the burner. Square or rectangular pads or cushions |33 are received in sockets |39 at marginal portions of the footing portion |24 of the base. Upwardly directed wall portions |25 formed integrally at the central portion of the' front end of the base are surmountedby a substantially horizontally disposed platformportion |25. A vibration absorbing block |21 formed of suitable material such as w'cod or cork yis carried on the platform portion |25 and is surmounted by the housing 2. Preferably, the block |21 fits into the socket 35 formedin the bottom of thev housing so th'at the top sides ofV the block are embraced by depending portions |25 of the socket. Similarly, the upwardly directed walls |25 of the base extend above the level of the platform |25 to embrace the bottom sides ot the block |21.

A stud |29 is secured in the central portion of I the socket 35 and extends downwardly through Van aperture in the center of the block |21 and has a loose fit `in a central hole formed in the platform |25. The parts are drawn together by a. nut |39 which forces a washer |3| of a. material having the capacity to deaden vibra.- tions, such as lead, upwardly against the bottomof the platform portion |25.

A wiring box |14 has a removable plate or plates |8| held in place by a screw or screws in register and sufficiently large to pass the rotor while the latter is on the shaft, whereby the bracket with the motor, lrotor, and closure attached thereto are removable from the housing as a unit or alternatively the motor with the rotor and closure attached thereto are removable from the bracket and housing as a unit.

7. In an oil burner having a supporting structure including a housing providing a blower chamber, a bracket having a vertical portion disposed against the housing and removably attached thereto and a horizontal portion extending from the housing, a motor detachably supported by the horizontal portion of the bracket and having a shaft extending through an opening in the housing, a blower rotor in the chamber and secured on the motor shaft to be actuated thereby, and a closure member having a running t with the shaft and normally disposed over said opening to substantially close the latter, said opening being sufficiently large to pass the blower rotor while the latter is on the shaft whereby the bracket with the motor, blower rotor and closure attached theretc is removable from the housing as a unit, or alternatively the motor with the blower rotor and the closure attached thereto is removable from the bracket and the housing as a unit.

8. In an oil burner, a housing having a blower chamber therein and an opening in one side of the housing into the chamber, a bracket having a vertical portion disposed against the housing and removably attached thereto and a platform portion extending horizontally from the housing below said opening, a motor detachably supported by the platform portion of the bracket and having a shaft extending through said opening, and a blower rotor in the chamber and secured on the shaft to be supported and actuated thereby, said opening being sufficiently large to pass the blower rotor therethrough while the latter is on the shaft and the vertical portion of the bracket being discontinuous across the opening whereby the bracket with the motor and blower rotor attached thereto is removable from the housing as a unit, or alternatively the motor with the blower rotor attached thereto is removable as a unit from the bracket and the housing while the bracket remains attached to the housing.

9. In an oil burner, a housing having a blower chamber therein and an opening in one side of the housing into the chamber, a bracket secured to said housing side and wholly supported thereby, said bracket having a horizontally extending platform portion disposed below the opening, an electric motor mounted on and wholly supported by said platform portion and having a substantially horizontally disposed shaft extending through thelopening, a blower rotor secured on the shaft and wholly supported thereby for rotation in the chamber, said blower rotor being smaller than the opening whereby the motor with the blower rotor secured on the shaft thereof is removable as a unit from the bracket and the housing without removing the bracket from the housing, and a closure surrounding said shaft between the motor and the blower rotor to extend across the opening and substantially seal the latter when the blower rotor is in the chambar? l0. In an oil burner, a housing having a blower chamber therein and an opening in one side of the housing into the chamber, a bracket secured to said housing side and wholly supported thereby, said bracket having a horizontally extending platform portion disposed below the opening, an electric motor having support means on the underside thereof resting by gravity on the platform portion of the bracket and having a substantially horizontally disposed shaft, means on the platform portion of the bracket engageable with the motor support means to guide the motor for horizontal sliding movement over the bracket to shift the motor shaft axially into and out of the blower chamber through said opening, a blower rotor secured on the shaft and wholly supported thereby. for rotation in the chamber, said blower rotor being smaller than the opening whereby the motor with the blower rotor secured on the shaft thereof is removable as a-unit from the bracket and the housing without removing the bracket from the housing, and a closure surrounding said shaft between the motor and the blower rotor to extend across the opening and substantially seal the latter when the blower rotor is in the chamber.

ll. In an oil burner, a housing having a blower chamber therein and an opening in one side of the housing into the chamber, a bracket secured to said housing side and wholly supported thereby, said bracket having a horizontally extending platform portion disposed below the opening, a cradle resting by gravity on the platform portion and removably secured thereto, an electric motor resiliently mounted in the cradle and wholly supported thereby, said motor having a generally horizontally disposed shaft extending into the chamber through saidV opening, a blower rotor secured on the shaft and wholly supported thereby for rotation in the chamber, said blower rotor being smaller than the opening whereby the cradle with the motor and the blower rotor are removable as a unit from the bracket and the housing without removing the bracket from the housing, and a closure surrounding said shaft between the motor and the blower rotor to extend across the opening and substantially seal the latter when the blower rotor is in the chamber.

12. In an oil burner, a base, a ihousing surmounting the base and wholly supported thereby, said housing having a blower chamber therein and an opening in one side of the housing into the chamber, a bracket extending as a cantilever from said housing and having a generally horizontally disposed platform portion below said opening, a motor removably mounted on said platform portion and having a shaft extending into the chamber through said opening, a blower rotor in the chamber and secured on the motor shaft to be wholly supported thereby, said opening being larger than the blower rotor whereby upon removal of the motor from. the bracket the blower rotor on the shaft is withdrawable through said opening, and a plate separable from the bracket and embracing the shaft between the motorl and the blower rotor to extend across the opening and substantially close the latter when the blower rotor is positioned within the chamber.

BEGmALD W. BECMTT. 

